Emmis Indianapolis shuffles formats; adds ESPN

Emmis Indianapolis announced that beginning 1/7/08, its programming on flagship WIBC-AM will be separated, with CHR WNOU 93.1 FM becoming WIBC-FM and broadcasting a news/talk format, and 1070 AM broadcasting an all-sports format as an ESPN affiliate. The transition period began yesterday, when 93.1 FM kicked off "93 Days of Christmas."

The move will allow WIBC to provide the market’s first local news and talk station on FM radio, along with one of the strongest ESPN Radio signals in the nation.

RadioNow, the previous format on 93.1 FM, will continue as an HD-2 format and on the Internet.

RBR observation: WNOU is a full-market FM, but nothing even close to the coverage of 50kw WIBC-AM. A lot of folks throughout Indiana are no longer going to have access to what has long been the leading radio news outlet in the state. Gonna be some upset listeners.